Weekend's English Premier League previews

Man United could be 18 points clear of rivals Man City by 3pm on Saturday

Sunderland v Manchester United (Sat 12:45)

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has doubts over David Vaughan and Stephane Sessegnon ahead of tomorrow's daunting Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Midfielder Vaughan returned early from international duty with Wales nursing a groin problem, while striker Sessegnon did not even meet up with Benin because of a similar injury, and both are being assessed.

However, defender Carlos Cuellar has been ruled out with the ankle problem he suffered in the 1-1 draw with Norwich and joins skipper Lee Cattermole (knee surgery) and striker Steven Fletcher (ankle ligaments), who will both miss the rest of the season, on the sidelines.

Manchester United have received a triple injury boost ahead of their Premier League trip to Sunderland.

Nani (hamstring), Phil Jones (ankle) and Paul Scholes (knee) have all recovered from their knocks.

All three could be involved at the Stadium of Light as United defend a 15-point lead at the top of the table, with Javier Hernandez and Antonio Valencia most likely to be excused due to their lengthy travels during the international break.

Arsenal will be without England duo Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Theo Walcott (hip/thigh) for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash against Reading at the Emirates Stadium.

Midfielder Abou Diaby is also absent after being ruled out for nine months with anterior cruciate ligament damage in his left knee.

Left-back Kieran Gibbs will be assessed after being laid low by a virus, but striker Lukas Podolski (ankle) and right-back Bacary Sagna (knee) should be available again, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and captain Thomas Vermaelen are eyeing recalls.

New Reading manager Nigel Adkins will have striker Pavel Pogrebnyak available again after a three-match suspension for tomorrow's game at Arsenal.

Former Gunners trainee Stuart Taylor is likely to again deputise for goalkeeper Adam Federici, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury, while attacking midfielder Jimmy Kebe continues to battle against a groin problem.

Captain Vincent Kompany was Manchester City's chief concern ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.

The defender, out for eight weeks with a calf injury, played for Belgium in midweek, much to manager Roberto Mancini's irritation.

Striker Sergio Aguero (knee) is fit to return after three games out while right-back Micah Richards and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) could be back early next month.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is facing a fresh injury crisis ahead of tomorrow's tough trip to play the champions.

Midfielder Cheick Tiote is out with a hamstring injury which could also sideline him for week's Europa League quarter-final trip to Benfica, while full-backs Mathieu Debuchy (hamstring), Davide Santon (thigh) and Massadio Haidara (knee) will also be missing.

Keeper Tim Krul (ankle) is back in training, but is not yet match-fit and Rob Elliot will keep his place in the team, while skipper Fabricio Coloccini (back) has returned to Tyneside from a break in Argentina, but is around three weeks away from playing again.

Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Jos Hooiveld are all dealing with knocks ahead of Southampton's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea.

The trio will be assessed ahead of the St Mary's clash, although manager Mauricio Pochettino hopes they will all be fit to feature.

Vegard Forren could make his Saints debut, having started Norway's World Cup qualifier against Albania.

John Terry is available for Chelsea's trip to Southampton - but manager Rafael Benitez will select with one eye on Monday's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

Benitez said it is "impossible" for players to peak twice in 48 hours so some rotation of the side is inevitable and Terry, after a season disrupted by a knee injury, is only likely to start one of them.

Chelsea's interim manager reported a clean bill of health following the international break and he is hopeful that Ramires (Achilles) and Gary Cahill (knee) could be fit for Monday.

Defender George McCartney is also fit after nearly four months out with a knee problem, but back-up goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel (finger) is out so Stephen Henderson has been recalled from his loan at Ipswich.

Midfielder James Morrison is West Brom's major fresh injury concern ahead of tomorrow clash with West Ham.

Morrison suffered a hamstring injury during the goalless draw against Stoke a fortnight ago and was forced to withdraw from international duty with Scotland.

Head coach Steve Clarke confirmed striker Peter Odemwingie was part of the squad, despite his latest Twitter attacks against the Baggies which are being investigated internally.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is hoping striker Callum McManaman will be fit for tomorrow's key Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich at the DW Stadium.

The 21-year-old aggravated an ankle injury during the 2-1 victory over Newcastle two weeks ago - a match in which he made headlines for the wrong reasons with a knee-high challenge on Massadio Haidara for which he escaped punishment.

Martinez is also worried about overplaying Antolin Alcaraz following his return from six months out with a groin injury, while he must decide whether to recall goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and captain Gary Caldwell after two wins in a row without them.

With goalkeeper Mark Bunn suspended after being sent off against Sunderland, Norwich manager Chris Hughton has confirmed Lee Camp will start in goal for the Canaries at Wigan.

First choice goalkeeper John Ruddy returned to training this week following surgery on a thigh problem but will require several reserve games before being considered for first-team action.

Meanwhile, midfielder Alexander Tettey is back in contention after recovering from a knee injury and Russell Martin (hamstring) is fit again after pulling out of the Scotland squad.

Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) could be back next weekend after a three-week lay-off.

Everton could welcome back goalkeeper Tim Howard and defender Phil Jagielka for the clash against Stoke at Goodison Park.

Howard (back) and Jagielka (ankle) have both missed the Toffees' last three games.

Midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar are both beginning two-match suspensions and defender Tony Hibbert (calf) is still sidelined.

Stoke have Robert Huth back available for the trip to Everton after the defender completed a three-match suspension.

Huth, who served the ban after accepting a violent conduct charge from the Football Association relating to an incident in the Potters' 1-0 defeat at Fulham last month, is expected to make an immediate return to the starting XI, linking up once again with his centre-half partner Ryan Shawcross.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis looks set to have a full squad to choose from for the fixture.